Alphabet Soup

“Letter Soup” as my daughter Pia calls it! This is a hearty vegetable and noodle soup perfect for kid’s lunches! (Or kids at heart! Feel free to sub in another small pasta!)

Take advantage of the fresh vegetables that are in right now, and then use great quality vegetable stock and canned tomatoes. In the winter there are really good frozen vegetables available. Although, I have to admit, the fresh corn kernels burst in your mouth and made this soup strangely (in a good way!) sweet. It was really delicious!

I have been putting this in the freezer and reheating it when we are going out to dinner and the kids are with a sitter. Served with a little cheese sandwich- it is a perfect well rounded dinner for them. And I know it is old school, but when Pia goes back to school next week, I am going to put a thermos of her new favorite “letter soup” in her lunch.

Alphabet Soup
4 Tbs butter
1 sweet yellow onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
3 cups celery, finely diced
5 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
3 ears sweet corn (about 2 cups kernels)
1 ½ cups green peas, (fresh or frozen)
8 cups vegetable stock
28oz can tomato puree
thyme sprig
1 cup alphabet pasta (1 ½ cups if you like a thicker consistency like I have here)
Kosher salt to taste

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the onions and slowly sweat for about 10 minutes.

Add the garlic and sweat another few minutes.

Add the celery and stir to coat the vegetables.

Add the carrots.

Add the corn and the peas.

Add the broth.

Add the tomato puree and a sprig of fresh thyme.

Put a lid on the pot and turn the heat to low.

Cook for about 30 minutes.

Add the alphabet pasta and cook for another 10 minutes.

Season with Kosher salt and serve hot. Enjoy!